"Thou art confident Niphrata will return?" questioned Theos presently in a low tone.
"She will return,".. rejoined Sah-luma quietly—"because she will do anything for love of me."
"For love's sake she may die!" said Theos. Sah-luma smiled.
"Not so, my friend! … for love's sake she will live!"
CHAPTER XXVI.
THE PRIEST ZEL.
As he uttered the last word the sound of an approaching light step disturbed the silence. It was one of the young girls of the household, . . a dark, haughty-looking beauty whom Theos remembered to have seen in the palace-hall when he first arrived, lying indolently among cushions, and playing with a tame bird which flew to and fro at her beckoning. She advanced now with an almost imperial stateliness,—her salute to Sah-luma was grateful, yet scarcely submissive,—while he, turning eagerly toward her, seemed gladdened and relieved at her appearance, his face assuming a gratified expression like that of a child who, having broken one toy, is easily consoled with another.
"Welcome, Irenya!" he exclaimed gayly—"Thou art the very bitter-sweetness I desire. Thy naughty pout and coldly mutinous eyes are pleasing contrasts to the overlanguid heat and brightness of the day! What news hast thou, my sweet? … Is there fresh havoc in the city? … more deaths? … more troublous tidings? … nay, then hold thy peace, for thou art not a fit messenger of woe—thou'rt much too fair!"
Irenya's red lips curled disdainfully, . . the "naughty pout" was plainly visible.
"My lord is pleased to flatter his slave!" she said with a touch of scorn in her musical accents, . . "Certes, of ill news there is more than enough,—and evil rumors have never been lacking these many months, as my lord would have known, had he deigned to listen to the common talk of those who are not poets but merely sad and suffering men. Nevertheless, though I may think, I speak not at all of matters such as these,—and for my present errand 'tis but to say that a Priest of the Inner Temple waits without, desirous of instant speech with the most illustrious Sah-luma."